You are Loved No Matter What - Encouragement for Today - June 1, 2016

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” 1 John 3:1a (NIV)

“Mommy, would you still love me if ...”

At only 8 years old, my littlest one had begun to learn that some actions in life come with harsh consequences. She needed to know: If she really messed up, would I stop loving her?

All those years ago, I didn't really think about this question my girl asked me. My heart is to love my children through anything they might experience, even if what they are going through is a result of a wrong choice they made. I assumed they knew.

“There is nothing you could do that would make me stop loving you,” I comforted her. In answering her question, I didn’t see this as a monumental moment in my daughter’s life. I was simply being her mom, reassuring her of my continual love.

It was not until a recent weekend, when my now 19-year-old girl told me just how important that reassurance had been to her: “Mom, I knew then that I could trust you forever.”

Her words caught me off guard. I had no idea that my then-little girl needed such strong reassurance, at such a young age. She needed to know she could trust my love.

I’ve learned I can't assume my children know my heart as their parent. Our Heavenly Father didn't assume we would know the depth of His great love either, so He tells us of its magnitude over and over and over again in His Word. Today’s key verse reinforces this simple truth that our hearts need to hear again and again: “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1a)

Once we make the exchange of our life for His, we are His children. God lavishly expends His love upon us in great amounts and without limit. The more we understand God’s great love toward us, the more we can trust Him with all things, similar to my little girl learning to trust me.

My love for my children is not based on how they behave or perform and the same is true for the love our perfect Heavenly Father has for us. No matter what, God’s love for us is constant. On the days we mess up completely and on the days we’re close to getting it all right, His love keeps pouring out to us. His love can then fill our hearts to overflowing so unconditional love spills over to those all around us.

Friend, have you encountered this great love God has and allowed Him to come in and completely change your life? If not, today is your day!

Oh Jesus! Thank You for Your never-ending love flowing to me every day. Please forgive me for my sin. I want to exchange my life for the new life You offer me. Help me take the steps I need to begin walking with You every day. Overwhelm me today with this truth and may Your love flow through me today, causing another person to see and experience Your unconditional love. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:
John 1:12, “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” (NIV)

Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (NIV)

RELATED RESOURCES:
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Stop by Lynn Cowell’s blog today, where we’ll talk more about sharing God’s great love with those around us. Lynn is giving away a copy of her book, His Revolutionary Love: Jesus’ Radical Pursuit of You.

REFLECT AND RESPOND:
If you have begun a new life in Christ, how are you sharing this powerful love so others can begin this new life as well?

Name one person in your life you can begin praying for and look for an opportunity to share the good news of salvation with her.